Paper-folding machine



June 19, 1928. L. K. ALDRICH PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed 'April 12, 19264 Shets-Sheet 1 N- gwtwnloc filflldrz'oig June 19, 1928.

L. K. ALDRICH PAPER rowm MACHINE Filed April 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2gwmntoz June 19, 1928.

L. K.- ALDRICH PAPER FOLDING MACHINE Filed AprilLlZ, 1 926 4Sheets-Sheet 3 gmnnto'o Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES LESTER KYLE ALDRICH, OF-SIDNEY, OHIO.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed April 12, 1926. Serial No. 101,395.

The invention relates to paper folding machines and more especially tomechanism for making a loop fold.

The object of the present invention isto improve the construction ofmechanism for be adjusted to various angles between ten degrees andforty-five degrees and to effect thesimultaneousadjustment of the noseof the upper folding plate so that the, latter will in the variousadjustments of the folding mechanism be arranged-in proper position withrelation to the paper level.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding mechanismwhich will be particularly valuable in folding the lighter stocks whichoften fold prematurely while going up the incline due to the frictioncaused by the plate diverting the sheet from its natural course, whichis a straightline, and to enable the paper to travel in a nearerstraight line than has heretofore been possible to avoid such prematurefolding of the paper. I V

- Another object of the invention is to provide adjustable foldingmechanism in whic the folding of the sheets will improve as the angle ofthe inclination of the folding plates is decreased and to enable paperof the lighter stocks and super-coated slick stock to be successfullyfolded without liability of spoiling the sheets.

4 With these and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe'novel construction and combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawingsand pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood thatvarious changes in the form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of theinvention;

In the drawings Figure -1 is a side elevation of a portion of apaperfolding machineillustrating a folding mechanism having adjustablefolding plates constructed in accordance w1th this invention.

2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the folding machineillustrating another method of adjusting the folding plates.-

Figs. 4; 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating theoperation of the curved nose of the upper folding plate in making theloop fold.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction forsecuring the folding plates in their adjustment.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings 1 designates theupper fold- 111g plate arranged at aninclination and adapted to beadjusted to various angles between forty-five degrees and approximatelyten degrees and provided at its lowerend with a curved nose 2 presentinga smooth convex cam face to the paper and adapted as hereinafter fullydescribed to impart to the fold the push necessary to carry it intoengagement with the folding rolls 3 and 4 which completes the loop foldin the usual manner. The curved nose 2'of the upper folding plate: 1 ispreferably of uniform thickness and is formed by curving the platesubstantially uniformly and its extreme edge 5 is arranged in closeproximity to the upper squeeze roll and it is adapted to clear theupper'squeeze roll 6 which co operates with the folding roll 3 infeeding h the sheet of paper from the feed table 7 of the paper foldingmachine to the upper and.lower folding plates 1 and 8. The lower foldingplate 8 which is adjustably secured to the upper folding plate 2 byscrews 9 or other suitable fastening devices is provided at the saidscrews 9 with slots 10 to permit an adjustment of the saidlower foldingplate so that its lower end 11 may always extend the requireddistancebelow the paper level to prevent a sheet ofpaper from stumblingand not properly entering the space between the upper and lower. foldingplates land 8. The upper and lower folding plates 1 and 8 are spacedapart in the-usual manner and the upward travel of the sheet is limitedby an adjustable stop 12 in the usual manner.v

he upper folding plate has mounted on it at each side of its lower endabracket 13 composed-of an inner attaching portion 14:, an intermediatetransversely disposed portion 15 and an outer bearin portion 16 which isprovided with a longitudinal bearing slot 17 receiving a horizontal stud18 u or stem and is mounted in ing slot'17 is arranged at tain thecurved projecting lateral] from the side frame 19 of the folding macine. The bearing bracket 13 is angular as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings and the longitudinal bearan acute angle to the upper foldingplate and it is adapted to permit a backward and forward adjustment ofthe folding plate simultaneously with the angular ad ustment of the sameto main nose in proper position with relation to the upper squeezer roll6 and the paper level which is in the plane of the upper face of thefeed table. The stud 18 is preferably provided with a threaded" shank asuitable open- .ing in the side frame 19 of the machine but it may bemounted thereon in any other desired'manner. The attaching ortion 14' ofthe bearing bracket is secured y screws 20 10 to the upperface of thetop folding plate and the intermediate transverse ortion 15 extendslaterally from the side 0 the folding plate to offset the outer bearingportion therefrom and to arrange the latter in prop- 86 er position "atthe outer face of the side 'frame of the machine to receive the journalstud 18. The top plate is provided with longitudinal slots 21 to receivethe projections of the adjustable stop 12.

0 The folding plates are adju'stably :sup-

85' body portion ported at various angles or inclinations by means of aside supporting bracket 22 consisting' of a horizontal attaching portionor base 23 and a curved upwardly extending or post which is providedwith a curved seriesof perforations 24 arranged eccentric or out of atrue are indicated by the line 26 havin the stud 18 for its center. Thedistance 0 the perforations of the g curved series gradually increasesas the q removable horizontal I provided at its outer endwith a knurledor angle decreases and the said perforations are adapted to receive ahorizontal .pin 27 which extends intoa socket 28 formed in anenlargement 29-of the folding plate. The pin 27 is preferably otherwiseroughened head. 30 and it is secured 1n its adjustment by'means of aclampmg screw 31 mounted on theenlargement 29 0 of the upper foldingdplate 1. The support ing bracketis secure by bolts or screws .32 to theside frame of the folding machine and the body portion of preferablycurved as shown and it as arll ranged at an'inclination and extends up-Wardly and forwardly.

It has been found by extensive experiment that the curved nose of theplate will fold paper practica 1y at. any

in angle and that in fact, the folding improves as the angle isdecreased. 'It has also been found that-in reducing the angle, it ispossible to lessen the'distance between the nose and the paperlevel-until the nose is brought IS on the same level that the sheetenters and '6. The openings 25, bracket are arranged with the bearingbracket is up er folding the lighter stock will go up the inclineperfectly. When working the incline at fortyfive degrees it is'necessary to leave an'opening or. space from approximatelythree-sixtecnths of an inch between the paper level. and the nose. Stiffstock can be driven up an incline perfectly at forty-five degrees whilesoft light stock which loops easily should be folded in nearer astraight line. It will thus be seen that the space between the curvednose 2 and the paper line or level must vary according to the angle ofthe folding'plates and experience demonstrates that when the plates areset at forty-five degrees the space must be three-sixteenths of an inch;that forty degrees of s ace is one-eighth of an inch and at thirty-t reedegrees the nose should be right at the paper line. The increased spaceat forty degrees and forty-five degrees is provided for the purpose ofeliminating friction in makin the turn, otherwise the sheet will nottrave curved nose 2 has reached the paper line thirtysthree degrees.

which is approximately Further decreasing the angle of the nose wouldcause the nose to pass below the-paper line if the folding plate movedin a true are but this is compensated for by the angular slot 17 and theeccentrlc series of openings 25 First the folding plates are loweredbeyond theangle. of thirty-three degrees and to a lesser angle theplatesare moved in a backward direction as indicated by the ar'- row 33, andthe angular slot operates to raise the curved nose 2 simultaneous 'withsuch rearward movement and maintains the curved nose at the paper lineorlevel and with the extreme edge of the nose in close proximity to butclearing the squeezer roll 'in the supporting a gradual in crease from atrue are described from the fulcrum stud as indicated by the line 26 andthis increased distance from the pivot or fulcrum stud 18 causes theincline an nlarly related bearing slot to function and maintain the noseat the paper line or level as the removable pin 27' is adjusted fromhole to hole. The convex lower face of the curved nose should be at thepaper line at all angles less than thirty-three degrees and the extremeedge-or corner 5 of the nose must alwaysjust clear the s ueezer roll 6without leaving an opening or thepaper to crowd through.

. The folding roll 3 and the upper squeezer roll 6 are journaled insuitable bearings carried by the side 4: is yieldingly mounted in aslidable ing 34 and is yieldably maintained in posiframe and thefolding) roll I eartion by a coiled spring mounted on a suitableadjusting screw 36 which may be of any desired construction;

In Fig. 3 of the drawing is illustrated another form of the invention inwhich the upper and lower adjustable folding plates i block 39. Thesupporting block 39 which is constructed of suitable metal is providedwith a horizontal face and an inclined upper face 43 which is adapted toreceive the folding plates which are securely anchored to and rigidlyheld on the supporting block by means of a thumb screw 44 extendingthrough the folding plates and engaging a threaded socket- 45 in the.upper inclined face of the said block 39. The folding late 37 isprovided with a curved nose and 1s constructed similar to thatheretofore described and the lower folding plate 38 is adjustablesimilar to that before described by means of screws 46 mounted on theupper the lower folding plate.

folding plate and operating in slots 47 in In practice a. set of foldingblockswill be provided having their inclined faces arranged at differentangles and at different elevations to enable the folding plates to beadjusted from the full line position illustrated in Fig. 3 of thedrawing to an elevated position at a different angle as illustratedindotted lines.

in the said figure.

These blocks provide a firm, rigid seat for the folding plates and aperfectly solid structure results in any adjustment of the foldingplates. Any number of the removable blocks may be em ployed and they'maybe'made to correspond with the various adjustments of ,the foldingplates illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The upper squeezer roll 48and the lower folding rolls 49 and 50 are arranged with relation to thefolding plates as heretofore described and the folding roll 59 ismounted in a slidable bearing 60 and is adjusted by means of a screw 61connected at its inner end with the slidable bearing 60 and havingdisposed on it a coiled spring 62 which yieldably maintains the roll 59in its adas it passes between the lates prior to the buckling action.Fig. 5 s ows a sheet start ing the natural buckle. This buckle isnatural due to the fact, thatthe paper has passed up the incline andcome in contact with the stop 12. The upper squeezer roll and thecoacting feed roll are still driving the sheet and the natural result orsequence is that the opening between the adjustablecurved faces of thefolding rolls 3 and 4 will be filled first as shown in Fig. 6. Thisrecess or space between the lower folding rolls having been fillcd theportion 66 of the zontal direction until it comes in contact with-thecurved nose 2. Fig. 7 shows the portion 66 having come in contact withthe curved nose 2 and the paper will now practically till the spacebetween. the upper squeezer roll and the. curved nose. The tail of thesheet is continually moving forward which forms a loop in the spacebetween the upper squeezer roll 'and' the curved nose very similar inform to the curved nosei The curvedsurfaces of the loop and carver noseworking against one another forces the fold 67 into the grip of thefolding rolls 3 and4 and the fold is completed as illustrated in Fig. 9of the drawing. The lower folding plate 8 is adead surface and thefeeding action of the'rolls 3 and 6 drive the tail of the sheet andafter the space besheet 65 Wlll now advance in almost horitween thelower folding rolls-and the curved nose is filled it requires just aslight push to enable the lower folding rolls to grip the sheet. Thispush is effected by the curved nose through its cam action, otherwisethe loop or fold of the paper would cross the opening or space betweenthe curved nose and the lower folding rolls and would cause a series ofaccordion folds to form in the;

opening.

All sheets do not form this double or accordion loop. Possibly seventypercent (70 of the paper run on any one run maystart itself by thenatural loop forming as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings and mayhave a sufficient body to maintain the loop and enter the folding rolls3 and 4 as indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 5. It has been found byexperience that in handling paper it is possible for a machinenoteqtupped with the curved nose to fold with this primary loop for aconsiderable period of time say six or seven hours, than all at once,due to the condition of the paper it may spoil five sheets out of everyten if the machine is not equipped with the curved nose. Bond paper.Wlll invariably fold on the. primary loop but cheap bodied stock of aflimsy char acter may be successfully handled with the curved nose whichwill handle any stock regardless of the body.

IVhat is claimed is: J

1. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, the combinationwith feed ing and folding rolls, of folding plates associated with thesaid rolls, the upper folding plate having a nose associated with thesaid rollsandmeans for adjusting the folding feed of the paper as theangle of the folding plates to different inclines or angles betweenapproximately 10 degrees and 45 degrees with relation to the line offeed of the ,paper andfor simultaneously adjusting the said nose 'toarrange the samenearer the line of plates decreases.

2. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, the combinationwith feeding and-foldingrolls, of upper and lower folding plates, the,upper folding plate beprovided at its lower end with a curved noseassociated with the sald rolls, and means for adjusting the foldingplates to "different angles or inclinations with relation to the line offeed of the sheet and for simultaneously effecting a back and forwardadjustment of the folding plates.

4. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, the combinationwith feeding and folding rolls, of upper and lower folding plates, theupper folding plate being provided at its lower end with a curved nosefold of, the sheet.-

' folding machines,

taneously adjusting the nose to vary the-dis..-

' tancebetwee'n the same and thelinelof fdld associated with the saidrolls, and means for adjusting thefolding plates to diiferent"' anglesor inclinations with relation to the line of; feed of the sheet and forsimul-' taneously adjusting the nose to vary the distance between thesame and the line of 5. In loop folding mechanism foi paper thecombination with feedin and folding rolls, o'f'upper and lower fo dingplates, the upper folding plate being provided at its lower end with acurved nose associated with the said rolls, and means for adjusting thefolding line of feed of the sheet and. -for.,simulof the sheet withoutchanging the distance v betwee'n' the extreme I point o f' jthe nose.and, the adjacent roll. 6. In loop folding mechanism for paper foldingmachines, the combination with feed ing and folding rolls, ofupperandlower folding plates, the upper foldipg plate being provided at itslower end with a curved nose associated with the said rolls, and meansfor-adjusting the folding plates about an axis adjacent the curved noseto (arrange them at diiferent'anglesQrincIinatiOns-betwe'enapproximately 10 degrees and 45 deplates todifiefent' angles or inclinations with relation to theassociated withthe saidi-olls,

tance below the line of feed of the sheet. In

7. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, the combinationwith feeding and folding rolls, of upper and lower folding'plates, theupper folding plate being provided at its lower end wit-h a curved noseassociated with the said rolls, means for adjusting the folding platesto arrange them] 1 a at difierent angles or inclinations with rela--tion to the line of feed of a sheet and for simultaneously effecting abackward and forward adjustment of the folding-plates to vary thedistance between the curved nose and the line of feed of the sheet, andmeans I for effecting an independent adjustment of the lower foldingplate to cause its lower end to project at alltimes at a predetermineddistance belowthe line of feed of. the sheet to prevent thepaper fromstumbling.

8. In'loop folding mechanism for paper fol-ding machines, thecombination with feeding-and foldin sociated with tii c said rolls,means forslidably and pivotally mounting the folding plates adjacent thesaid rolls for adjusting the folding plates to different angles on in-'clinations and for moving the folding plates backwardly and forwardly,and means for supporting the folding-plates in their adjustment. r

9. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, the combinationwith feedrlolls, of folding plates asing and folding rolls, of foldingplates asso-,

ciated with the said rolls, and pivotally mounting adjacent the saidrolls for means for slidably the folding plates effecting an eccen--triciad-justment of the folding plates with relation to the axis -ofone of the .rolls to arrange the same at different angles or in--clinatlons and for simultaneously moving the s'ame baekwardly. orforwardly.

10. In loop' folding niechanismfor paper f folding machines,

the combination with feeding and folding rolls, of foldin 'plates meansor slid-- ably and pi votally mounting. the folding platesadjacent thesaid rolls for adjusting the folding p clinations, an means for securingthe folding plates in their adjustment including a] supporting. bracketprovided with a curved senes of openings arran e'd eccentricto theaxisof the foldjng' pfate and fastenin means adaptedto lbe arranged in thesaid openings for securing the folding lates;

11. In. loop foldingmechan'ism or paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith the said rolls, means for mounting the plates adjacent the saidrolls including a fixed pivot and a bearing bracket esto differentangles or insecured to the folding plates and slidably fulcrumed on thesaid pivot to raise and lower the plates and to move them backward andforward and means for securing the folding plates in their adjustment onthe pivot to arrange them at different angles or inclinations atdifferent distances from the line of feed of the paper.

12. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith the said rolls, means for mounting the plates adjacent the saidrolls including a fixed pivot, a bearin bracket secured to the foldingplates an having an angularly related bearing slot receivin the saidpivot whereby the bracket is sli ably and pivotally mounted thereon andmeans for securing the folding plates in their adjustment on the saidpivot.

13. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith the said rolls, means for mounting the plates adjacent the saidrolls including a fixed pivot, a bearin bracket secured to the foldingplates and having an angularly related bearing slot receivin the saidpivot whereby the bracket is sli ably and pivotally mounted thereon, afixed supporting bracket provided with a curved series of openingsarranged concentric with the said pivot, and fastening means adapted. tobe arranged in the said openings for securing the folding plates to thebracket at different angles or inclinations;

14. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith the said rolls, means for mounting the plates adjacent the saidrolls including a fixed pivot,' a bearin bracket secured to the foldingplate and having an angularly related bearmg slot receivin the saidpivot whereby the bracket is sli ably and pivotally mounted thereon, afixed supporting ries of openings arranged concentric with the saidpivot, a pin ada ted tobe arranged in the said openings an the foldingplates decreases.

bracket provided with a curvedgse-*- engaged with the folding plates forsecuring the same at different angles or inclinations and fasteningmeans for securing the pin in its engagement with the folding plates.

15. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith the said rolls, and provided with a nose adapted to make a fold atan angle less than 45 degrees and means for supporting the foldingplates .at an angle substantially less than forty-five degrees and withthe nose of the folding plate nearer the line of feed of the paper asthe angle of 16. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines,the combination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding platesassociated with the said rolls, a nosev carried by the folding platesfor making a fold at anaangle less than forty five degrees, and

means for supportin the'folding lates at an angle substantially lessthan ort y-five degrees and for simultaneously adjusting the nose toarrange the same nearer the line of feed of the paper as the angle ofthe folding plates decreases.

17. In loop-folding mechanism for paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith the said rolls, and provided with a curved nose adapted to make afold at an angle less than fort five de rees and means for supportin theolding plates at an angle substantially less than forty five degreesand.with the curved'nose less than three-sixteenths of an inch from theline of feed of the paper.

18. In loop folding mechanism for paper folding machines, thecombination with feeding and folding rolls, of folding plates associatedwith; the said rolls and provided with a curved nose and supported at anangle substantially less than forty-five degrees and with the curvednose less than three-sixteenths of an inch from the line of feed of thepaper. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LESTER KYLE ALDRICH.

